# Karatau

> place in Jambyl Region, Kazakhstan

**Wikidata**: [Q1850973](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1850973)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karatau,_Kazakhstan)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/karatau

## Summary

Karatau is a city in Talas District, Jambyl Region, Kazakhstan, serving as the administrative center of the district. With a population of approximately 30,204 as of 2019, it is classified as a city of district importance and functions as the capital of Talas District. The city covers an area of 200 square kilometres and is located at coordinates 43.16667°N, 70.46667°E in southern Kazakhstan.

## Key Facts

- **Classification**: City of district importance; administrative center of Talas District
- **Country**: Kazakhstan
- **Region**: Jambyl Region (also known as Turkestan Region in some classifications)
- **District**: Talas District (established January 1, 1928)
- **Coordinates**: 43.16667°N latitude, 70.46667°E longitude
- **Area**: 200 square kilometres
- **Timezone**: UTC+06:00
- **Postal Code**: 080800
- **Official Name**: Қаратау (Kazakh)
- **Native Label**: Қаратау
- **Aliases**: Qaratau
- **Population History**:
  - 1999: 28,281
  - 2009: 26,639
  - 2012: 27,365
  - 2016: 28,804
  - 2019: 30,204 (preferred figure)
- **Capital Of**: Talas District
- **Wikidata Description**: Place in Jambyl Region, Kazakhstan

## FAQs

**What region is Karatau located in?**

Karatau is located in the Jambyl Region (also known as Turkestan Region) of Kazakhstan. It is the administrative center of Talas District within this region.

**When was Talas District established?**

Talas District was established on January 1, 1928, during the Soviet era in Kazakhstan.

**What is the population of Karatau?**

According to the most recent preferred data from 2019, Karatau has a population of 30,204 residents. Historical figures show population fluctuations: 28,281 in 1999, 26,639 in 2009, 27,365 in 2012, and 28,804 in 2016.

**What is the area of Karatau?**

Karatau covers an area of 200 square kilometres.

**What is the timezone of Karatau?**

Karatau operates on UTC+06:00.

**What is the postal code for Karatau?**

The postal code for Karatau is 080800.

## Why It Matters

Karatau serves as a vital administrative and economic center for Talas District in southern Kazakhstan. As the district capital, it functions as the primary hub for local governance, commerce, and services for the surrounding population. The city's role as a regional administrative center makes it strategically important for the coordination of local government functions, public services, and regional development initiatives in the Jambyl Region.

The city's population growth from 26,639 in 2009 to 30,204 in 2019 demonstrates its increasing significance as a regional center. This growth pattern suggests Karatau serves as an important settlement for regional development, potentially attracting residents from surrounding rural areas seeking administrative services, employment opportunities, and urban amenities.

Karatau's position as a city of district importance within Kazakhstan's administrative structure means it plays a key role in the country's decentralized governance system. The city likely serves as an intermediate level of administration between the regional center and rural settlements, providing essential government services, educational institutions, and healthcare facilities to residents of the district.

## Notable For

- **Administrative Role**: Serves as the capital of Talas District, making it the primary administrative center for the district's governance
- **Historical District**: Talas District has been an administrative unit since 1928, giving Karatau a long-standing role in regional governance
- **Multilingual Presence**: The city has Wikipedia articles in 22 different languages, indicating international recognition and interest
- **Population Growth**: Demonstrated steady population increase from 2009 to 2019, reflecting ongoing regional development

## Body

### Geography and Location

Karatau is situated in the Jambyl Region of Kazakhstan at coordinates 43.16667°N latitude and 70.46667°E longitude. The city covers an area of 200 square kilometres and is located within Talas District, which serves as its administrative jurisdiction. The city's geographic position places it in the southern part of Kazakhstan, within the Talas River valley region.

### Administrative Status

Karatau holds the classification of "city of district importance" in Kazakhstan's administrative hierarchy. This designation indicates that while the city is not classified as a regional center, it serves as an important urban settlement with administrative functions that extend beyond a typical rural settlement. As the capital of Talas District, Karatau serves as the administrative center for the district's government operations, making it the primary location for district-level governance, public administration, and civic services.

Talas District itself was established on January 1, 1928, during the Soviet period in Kazakhstan's history. This long-established administrative structure has contributed to Karatau's role as a regional center for nearly a century.

### Demographics and Population

The population of Karatau has demonstrated fluctuations over the past two decades:

- **1999**: 28,281 residents
- **2009**: 26,639 residents
- **2012**: 27,365 residents
- **2016**: 28,804 residents
- **2019**: 30,204 residents (preferred figure)

The population data reveals an interesting trend: the city experienced a population decline between 1999 and 2009, dropping from 28,281 to 26,639 residents. However, this was followed by consistent growth in subsequent years, with the 2019 population of 30,204 exceeding the 1999 figure. This population trajectory reflects broader trends in Kazakhstan's urban development, including rural-to-urban migration patterns and regional economic shifts.

### Time and Communication

Karatau operates on Kazakhstan Standard Time (UTC+06:00), which aligns with the country's unified timezone policy. The city's postal code is 080800, facilitating postal services and logistical operations for the region.

### International Identification and References

The city is catalogued in numerous international databases and classification systems:

- **Geonames ID**: 1519938
- **Freebase ID**: /m/02vqpb1
- **Who's On First ID**: 421168881
- **GNS Unique Feature ID**: -2342688

These identification numbers allow Karatau to be referenced in various geographic information systems, mapping applications, and international databases.

### Linguistic Presence

Karatau has significant multilingual representation, with Wikipedia articles available in 22 languages including Belarusian (be), Catalan (ca), Chechen (ce), Cebuano (ceb), German (de), Greek (el), English (en), Spanish (es), Persian (fa), Finnish (fi), French (fr), Upper Sorbian (hsb), Italian (it), Kazakh (kk), Lithuanian (lt), Polish (pl), Russian (ru), Swedish (sv), Turkish (tr), Tatar (tt), Ukrainian (uk), Uzbek (uz), and Chinese (zh).

This extensive linguistic coverage indicates international awareness of the city and its relevance beyond Kazakhstan's borders. The Kazakh-language Wikipedia article is particularly important for local and regional audiences.

### Cultural and Media References

The city has a dedicated Wikimedia Commons category (Karatau, Kazakhstan) and is associated with a topic on Quora (Karatau-Kazakhstan). An image of the city is available through Wikimedia Commons at the file path KaratauCity.jpg, providing visual documentation of the urban landscape.

### Related Administrative Entities

Karatau's significance is closely tied to its relationship with several key administrative entities:

- **Talas District**: The district for which Karatau serves as the administrative capital, established in 1928
- **Jambyl Region**: The larger regional administrative unit in which Karatau is located
- **Kazakhstan**: The sovereign nation where Karatau is situated, which gained independence in 1991 following the dissolution of the Soviet Union

These relationships establish Karatau's position within Kazakhstan's three-tier administrative system: national (country), regional (Jambyl Region), and district (Talas District).

## References

1. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
2. [Source](http://stat.gov.kz/getImg?id=ESTAT111164)
3. Population Census in Kazakhstan (1999)
4. Census in Kazakhstan 2009
5. [Source](http://stat.gov.kz/api/getFile/?docId=ESTAT305821)
6. GeoNames